Power actuated hair teasing apparatus with flexible cable drive

ABSTRACT

A teasing comb is releasably held by a lightweight hand unit containing gearing for imparting a purely laterally reciprocating movement to the comb. The hand unit also embodies a thumb switch for power control and a spring-loaded drive release responsive to entanglement of the comb in the hair. Drive is transmitted to the hand unit from a remotely located motor-reduction gear unit through a flexible drive cable, associated with an electric power lead cord extending to the control and automatic release switches, both cable and cord being embodied in a flexible transmission unit having at each end a pair of releasable couplings for connecting the drive cable and electric cord respectively to the motor-gear unit at its one end and to the hand unit at its other end.

United States Patent May [54] POWER ACTUATED HAIR TEASING APPARATUS WITH FLEXIBLE CABLE DRIVE [72] Inventor: Charles C. May, 11605 Washington Place, Los Angeles, Calif. 90066 [22] Filed: June 14, 1971 v 211 Appl. No.: 152,547

[451 Oct.3l,'1972 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz AztorneyLynn l-l. Latta [5 7] ABSTRACT A teasing comb is releasably held by a lightweight hand unit containing gearing for imparting a purely laterally reciprocating movement to the comb. The hand unit also embodies a thumb switch for power control and a spring-loaded drive release responsive to entanglement of the comb in the hair. Drive is transmitted to the hand unit from a remotely located motor-reduction gear unit through a flexible drive cable, associated with an electric power lead cord extending to the control and automatic release switches, both cable and cord being embodied in a flexible transmission unit having at each end a pair of releasable couplings for connecting the drive cable and electric cord respectively to the motor-gear unit at its one end and to the hand unit at its other end.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures n l-Hlil ltl lll'llllinllllnr rm I P'A'TE'N'TEDumm I972 I 3.701. 354

46 E 47 INVENTOR.

@Z 1 /6. 10 CHAPLES C NA Y 59, gmabk POWER ACTUATED HAIR TEASING APPARATUS WITH FLEXIBLE CABLE DRIVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hair and wig styling, as currently practiced, involves back-combing (toward the scalp) and French lacing (away from the scalp) by a large number of short, quick strokes of a styling comb which is usually held with its teeth in a plane at right angles to the stroke path. The word teasing, sometimes applied only to back-combing, is used herein to broadly include both that and the French lacing operation. These operations are performed by hand over a long period, and hence are arduous and tiring to the stylist or other person doing the operation.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide apparatus for power-driving a teasing comb. Prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,204,469, 3,386,453, 3,421,522, 3,459,199, 3,461,883 and 3,474,795 disclose teasing combs driven by motor-gear combinations embodied in hand-held units. Such units are likewise tiring because of the weight of the motor and gearing and motion-resolving mechanism supported by the stylists hand. In all of these patents except U.S. Pat. No. 3,474,795 the path of comb movement is rotary (either circular or elliptical) and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,474,795 it is purely oscillating. U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,782 likewise discloses a teasing comb driven in an elliptical path by motor, gear and motion-directing mechanism all embodied in a handheld unit, although it also discloses broadly the concept of separation of the motor (and control switch) from the hand unit containing a clutch, speed reducer and motion-resolving mechanism. It does not, however, provide for manual control of the motor at the hand unit, nor any means for detachable connection of either end of the flexible drive unit to the motor or hand unit.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a practical apparatus .for transmitting both mechanical drive and electric power between a remotely located motor and a lightweight hand-held unit for resolving the drive into reciprocating movements of a comb which is coupled to the hand unit by a quick release coupling for cleaning and sterilizing the comb after a styling operation. Specific objects are to provide such an apparatus:

1. embodying a power unit of sufficient size to provide adequate power to drive the comb in a hair teasing operation;

2. avoiding any and all possibility of an electric spark igniting hair of a subject being treated with lacquer or other readily combustible chemical, or of electric shock or mechanical injury to the subjects body or hair;

3. having minimum noise production in the vicinity of the subject's head;

4. embodying a lightweight hand unit providing better maneuverability of the comb and less tiring effect on the user;

5. embodying a hand unit that is compact and easily gripped as well as being light in weight;

6. embodying a hand unit with manual control and safety switches thereon for control of the electric drive motor;

7. incorporating reduction gearing in the motor unit at a location sufficiently remote to minimize the effect of its noise on both the subject and stylist;

8. embodying a flexible transmission unit adapted for transmitting both mechanical drive and electric power between a motor-gear unit located at any selected distance from the stylist and subject, and a hand unit embodying electric power control switches;

9. providing for quick coupling and uncoupling of both ends of the flexible transmission unit to both mechanical drive and electrical connector units at both the motor-gear unit and the hand unit respectively, whereby to facilitate convenient handling and storage of the several units of the apparatus;

10. adapted to transmit purely reciprocatory movements to the comb in a straight-line path devoid of any circular, elliptical, oscillating or other arcuate motion of any kind, whereby to achieve maximum efficiency in the hair teasing result.

DESCRIPTION These and other objects will become apparent in the following specifications and appended drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a motor-driven hair teasing apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hand unit and associated elements thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front end view of the hand unit;

FIG. 4 is an end view, on a larger scale, of the combholding socket of the hand unit;

FIG. Sis a front end view of the same on a larger scale, with parts broken away to illustrate the motionresolving mechanism therein;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the comb;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the comb shank;

FIG. 8 is a rear end view of the hand unit;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end of the flexible transmission unit; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the motor-gear unit.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have shown therein, as an example of one form. in which the invention may be embodied, a power operated hair teasing apparatus comprising, in general, a comb C, a handle unit H for holding and directing the strokes of the comb, a motor-reduction gear unit M operable to deliver powered rotation at a suitable speed of rotation; and a flexible drive transmission unit D for transmitting drive from motor M to hand unit l-I.

Embodied in motor unit M is a reduction gear unit G and in the forward end of hand unit H is a motionresolving unit R (FIG. 5) for translating rotary drive into reciprocating movement in a straight linear path and guiding the comb in such path.

Comb C (FIG. 6) is constructed of a sturdy non-conductive material for the purpose of insulating the users electrically from the circuit in hand unit C and comprises a body 11 having teeth of three different lengths (short, medium and long) repeated in successive groups along its length, also a pair of teeth 15 of large size on the free end of the comb, used as a hair-parting and sectioning device, and a shank. 12 having at its end a pair of diametrically opposite lugs 13 for locking it against rotation in a mating socket l4-of keyhole shape (FIG. 4) of motion resolving mechanism R (FIG. 5).

Hand unit I-I (FIG. 2) comprises a tubular handle 21 which can be cylindrical or of oval cross-section, a

drive shaft 22 extending therethrough from end to end, and an electric connector receptacle 23 in its rear end, a thumb switch 24 near its forward end, a switch 25 secured thereto, an electric conductor connections 26 extending between receptacle 23 and the two switches, in series, whereby the motor circuit can be closed or opened manually be thumb operation of switch 24 or opened at switch 25. Switches 24 and 25 can be of any well known type.

Motion resolving mechanism R is embodied in an enlarged housing bell section 31 of unit H at its forward end, including an end wall 32 having a straight guide slot 33 therein. Slidably mounted in slot 33 is a follower block 34 in which is formed the keyhole socket 14 for receiving and holding comb shank 12 in a rotatably fixed position on an axis that is fixed in parallel relation to drive shaft 22 but reciprocable transversely in a straight path enforced by the sliding of guide block 34 in guide slot 33.

Rotation of drive shaft 22 is translated into reciprocating movement of guide block 34 by hypocycloid gearing mounted in housing 31 and comprising a sun gear 35 fixed therein, an arm 36 fixed to shaft 22 and rotated thereby in a movement swinging around its axis, an idler gear 37 rotatably mounted on arm 36 and tracking on sun gear 35, a planet gear 38 having a fixed or integral shaft 39 likewise rotatably mounted on arm 36, and a connecting rod 40 secured to shaft 39 and hence to gear 38 and pivoted to arm 36 at the rotational axis thereof, its other end being pivoted to guide block 34 so as to transmit reciprocating movement thereto in response to the orbiting movement of arm 36. Block 34 has parallel sides confined between and 3 slidably guided on the edges of slot 33 with just enough clearance to permit free sliding movement of the block in the slot, but close enough to maintain the comb teeth in a position at all times parallel to a plane transverse to the slot and preferably at right angles to the slot and to the face of housing wall 32.

The planet gear 38 has a ratio of 1:2 relative to sun gear 35, and arm is so oriented in relation to the position of gear 38 around the circumference of gear 40, that it will be aligned with slot 33 and extend to the respective ends thereof in the respective positions of gear 38 180 apart at opposite sides of gear 35, with the axis of gear 38 intersecting the axis of slot 33 near respective ends of the slot. Thus guide block 34 is moved from one end of the slot to the other end in reciprocating movements in which it imparts to comb C a succession of working strokes and return strokes with the comb held in a succession of positional planes all parallel to one another.

Drive transmission unit D (FIG. 9) comprises a flexible drive cable 41 and a dual-conductor electric cord 42 both extending longitudinally through a common flexible sheath (dual-channeled housing) 43. On each end of core 41 is a threaded cap 44 (similar to a gland nut) adapted to be screwed onto threaded projecting ends of bearing bushings 45 and 46 of hand unit shaft 22 (FIG. 2) and motor M (FIG. 10) in which shaft 22 and the drive shaft 59 of motor M are respectively journalled. The ends of these shafts, exposed in bearings 45 and 46, are provided with square sockets 47 for mating reception of squared ends 48 (FIG. 9) on the rotating cores of flexible drive shaft 41. On the respective ends of electric cord 42 are respective electrical connector plugs 49 for coupling to receptacles in hand unit H and 50 in motor unit M.

The remote drive unit (FIG. 10) comprises an electric motor M and the reduction gear G attached to the motor housing, receiving drive from the motor and delivering reduced-speed drive to an output shaft having the drive coupling socket 47. A power lead 55 supplies current to the motor through a circuit one side of which includes a connection'through one conductor of cord 42 to connections 26 of hand unit H and thence to switches 24 and 25 (in series) and a return connection through circuit 26 and the other conductor of cord 42 to the receptacle 50 and thence to the motor. Switch 24 is normally open and is preperably of a push-button type, closed only when pressure is maintained on its push button. Switch 25 is adapted to instantly open the circuit in response to a tug such as would be developed by entanglement of the comb in a subjects hair during reciprocating movement of the comb.

Motor M may be provided with a storage bracket 57 of yoke form, to bold hand unit H when not in use. Motor unit M may be pennanently installed adjacent a styling chair when used in a styling salon, or may be portable and carried on a suitable mounting bracket (not shown) in other applications.

The mode of use and operation of the invention is believed to be apparent in the preceding description. its advantages are set forth in the statement of objects.

I claim:

1. In a power operated teasing apparatus, in combination:

a teasing comb;

a hand unit including a power transmitting shaft and motion resolving mechanism driven by said shaft, said mechanism holding said comb at a forward end of said hand unit, and said comb operable in response to rotation of said shaft to reciprocate said comb transversely of its longitudinal axis through a plurality of positions in planes parallel to one another;

said hand unit further including a control switch, a

first electric connector, and conductor connections between said switch and connector;

an electric motor remote from said hand unit;

a reduction gear positioned on and driven by said motor and having drive output means;

a power lead for said motor;

a second electric connector associated with said motor;

a flexible transmission unit extending between said hand unit and reduction gear, said transmission unit including a flexible shaft for mechanical transmission of drive from said reduction gear to said hand unit shaft and a dual conductor cord;

means at the respective ends of said transmission unit providing for detachable drive connections between the ends of said flexible shaft and said hand unit shaft and reduction gear drive output means;

and means providing detachable electric connections between the ends of said dual conductor cord and said first and second electric connectors respectively, said conductor cord and connectors functioning to complete a circuit between said power input lead and said conductor connections, thereby providing for remote control of said motor at said hand unit by said control switch.

2. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 1, including: 5

definedin claim 1, said hand unit further comprising:

a handle;

a housing bell on a forward end of said handle, said bell having an end provided with means defining a straight guide slot;

said power transmitting shaft having an end adjacent said head; said shaft extending axially through said handle;

hypocycloid motion-resolving gearing in said housing bell, driven by said shaft;

a follower slidably guided in said guide slot and having means for detachably holding said comb in a plane normal to said slot;

and means for transmitting drive from said motor to said shaft;

said hypocycloid gearing including an out-put element moving in a straight line traverse along the axis of said slot and connected to said follower for 30 imparting true reciprocatory translatory movements of the comb held thereby, with said comb, in all positions, disposed in planes parallel to one another.

4. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 3:

said follower being guided in said slot in a rotationally fixed position throughout transitional reciprocative movement thereof, so as to hold said comb in a non-tilting position on its longitudinal axis.

5. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 4:

said comb being held by said follower with the planes of its teeth transverse to its path of reciprocative motion and parallel to one another in all positions of its reciprocative movement.

6. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 4;

said comb including a shank having opposed radially projecting lugs at its free end;

and said follower having a keyhole socket in which said free end including said lugs is releasably held with a' fitted engagement holding the comb in said rotationally fixed position.

7. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 3, said hypocycloid gearing comprising:

a sun gear coaxial with said drive transmitting shaft end;

a crank arm secured to said shaft end adjacent said sun gear for rotation by said shaft;

an idler gear rotatably mounted on said crank arm and tracking on said sun gear; a planet gear rotatably mounted on said crank arm and meshing with said idler gear for rotation in response to orbital movement around said sun gear;

a connecting arm rotating with said planet gear;

said follower being pivoted to a free end of said connecting arm to receive movement therefrom, said planet gear having a ratio of 1:2 with respect to said sun gear, whereby to swing said connecting arm in a path to develop said straight line traverse of said follower. 

1. In a power operated teasing apparatus, in combination: a teasing comb; a hand unit including a power transmitting shaft and motion resolving mechanism driven by said shaft, said mechanism holding said comb at a forward end of said hand unit, and said comb operable in response to rotation of said shaft to reciprocate said comb transversely of its longitudinal axis through a plurality of positions in planes parallel to one another; said hand unit further including a control switch, a first electric connector, and conductor connections between said switch and connector; an electric motor remote from said hand unit; a reduction gear positioned on and driven by said motor and having drive output means; a power lead for said motor; a second electric connector associated with said motor; a flexible transmission unit extending between said hand unit and reduction gear, said transmission unit including a flexible shaft for mechanical transmission of drive from said reduction gear to said hand unit shaft and a dual conductor cord; means at the respective ends of said transmission unit providing for detachable drive connections between the ends of said flexible shaft and said hand unit shaft and reduction gear drive output means; and means providing detachable electric connections between the ends of said dual conductor cord and said first and second electric connectors respectively, said conductor cord and connectors functioning to complete a circuit between said power input lead and said conductor connections, thereby providing for remote control of said motor at said hand unit by said control switch.
 2. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 1, including: a tubular sheath for said flexible shaft; and means at the respective ends of said sheath for locking said ends to said hand unit and reduction gear respectively so as to hold said flexible shaft ends in coupled connection with said drive output means and hand unit shaft respectively.
 3. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 1, said hand unit further comprising: a handle; a housing bell on a forward end of said handle, said bell having an end provided with means defining a straight guide slot; said power transmitting shaft having an end adjacent said head; said shaft extending axially through said handle; hypocycloid motion-resolving gearing in said housing bell, driven by said shaft; a follower slidably guided in said guide slot and having means for detachably holding said comb in a plane normal to said slot; and means for transmitting drive from said motor to said shaft; said hypocycloid gearing including an out-put element moving in a straight line traverse along the axis of said slot and connected to said follower for imparting true reciprocatory translatory movements of the comb held thereby, with said comb, in all positions, disposed in planes parallel to one another.
 4. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 3: said follower being guided in said slot in a rotationally fixed position throughout transitional reciprocative movement thereof, so as to hold said comb in a non-tilting position on its longitudinal axis.
 5. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 4: said comb being Held by said follower with the planes of its teeth transverse to its path of reciprocative motion and parallel to one another in all positions of its reciprocative movement.
 6. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 4; said comb including a shank having opposed radially projecting lugs at its free end; and said follower having a keyhole socket in which said free end including said lugs is releasably held with a fitted engagement holding the comb in said rotationally fixed position.
 7. A power operated hair teasing apparatus as defined in claim 3, said hypocycloid gearing comprising: a sun gear coaxial with said drive transmitting shaft end; a crank arm secured to said shaft end adjacent said sun gear for rotation by said shaft; an idler gear rotatably mounted on said crank arm and tracking on said sun gear; a planet gear rotatably mounted on said crank arm and meshing with said idler gear for rotation in response to orbital movement around said sun gear; a connecting arm rotating with said planet gear; said follower being pivoted to a free end of said connecting arm to receive movement therefrom, said planet gear having a ratio of 1:2 with respect to said sun gear, whereby to swing said connecting arm in a path to develop said straight line traverse of said follower. 